title: Breast cancer knowledge and related behaviors among women in Abha City, southwestern Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,092 women attending urban primary health care centers in Abha City southwestern Saudi Arabia about breast cancer knowledge, attitudes, and related practices. Only 22.0% heard about mammography, and 41.5% heard about breast self-examination (BSE). More than half of the women in the study identified changes occurring in case of breast cancer and identified risk factors. Only 8.3% were examined by clinical breast examination (CBE), 6.2% were examined by mammography, and 29.7% performed BSE. The study points to the insufficient knowledge of women and the low practice of BSE, CBE, and mammography. Public awareness should be enhanced by all available means including mass media, schools, social gatherings, and waiting areas in primary health care centers. There is an urgent need for continuing medical education programs for health care workers in the region concerning breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. mahfouz2005@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mahfouz
authors.forename: Mervat H A
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hassanein
authors.forename: Shamsun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.forename: Aesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farheen
authors.forename: Inasse I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Gaballah
authors.forename: Amani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Faten M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rabie
authors.forename: Razia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aftab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult